Soccerflation...Perks that Neymar Júnior will receive in Saudi Arabia:
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The 10y breakeven inflation rate, a common market measure of expected inflation over the next decade, only nudged to 1.91%; still below the 2% threshold and well under the roughly 3% levels seen after Russia invaded Ukraine. This suggests that markets do not currently expect the conflict to have lasting inflationary effects. Source: Bloomberg, HolgerZ
According to the Financial Times, the Gulf states are facing growing budget pressure due to the US-Israeli war with Iran, which is disrupting their economies. The conflict has reduced energy revenues, slowed shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, damaged oil and gas infrastructure, hurt tourism and aviation, and increased defence spending. As a precaution, some Gulf governments are reviewing overseas investments and financial commitments, including investment pledges, business contracts, sports sponsorships, and asset holdings. They may also consider invoking force majeure clauses in contracts. The review could affect major global investments, including hundreds of billions of dollars pledged to the US, attracting attention from the White House. According to the FT, Gulf leaders had urged diplomacy before the war and are now frustrated about being drawn into the conflict, questioning whether their financial support for regional initiatives is being used for peace or war. Saudi Arabia held 254 billion riyals in U.S. equity exposure as of Q4 2025. Across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), total financial commitments linked to the United States are estimated at $3–4 trillion, spanning sovereign wealth fund investments, defense procurement, infrastructure partnerships, and bilateral investment agreements. The United Arab Emirates alone has pledged $1.4 trillion in U.S. investments over the next decade, under an economic framework announced during Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office. These figures are not merely financial statistics—they form the economic backbone of the U.S.–Gulf security partnership. In effect, they underpin the strategic relationship that allows the Pentagon to maintain its military presence in the region, including deploying carrier strike groups in the Arabian Gulf. Bottom line: If the war continues, Gulf states may scale back global investments and financial commitments, which could have significant economic and geopolitical consequences, including pressure on the US to pursue diplomacy.
Investors are currently facing major unknowns: 1/ A major conflict in the Middle East. In this context, we believe investors should not lose sight of what we think remains a positive backdrop for stocks; 2/ The pendulum around AI which continues to swing between fear and excitement; 3/ Uncertainties about tariffs. But in this context, it is key to NOT OVERREACT to headlines and to keep in mind that the overall context remains positive for stocks: 1/ Corporate earnings continue to strengthen within and beyond AI 2/ The Fed maintains a bias toward easing 3/ The U.S. economy appears to be on track for another year of solid growth. On the later, US economic news published yesterday were impressive, starting with the solid ADP and ending with the blowout Service ISM number. The ADP number was the day's first positive surprise, as private jobs surged 3x from January and beat estimates, as they rose to 63K, the highest since November. Then it was the Service ISM print which smashed expectations (a 6-sigma beat), rising the most since Sept 2024 to the highest level since July 2022. The stagflation narrative was crushed, as the ISM's Prices Paid index tumbled to an 11 month low while everything else rose. The Citi US eco surprise index jumped from 30 to 39 in one session following the unexpectedly strong economic data. This set of very positive data was good enough to offset some of the scary news on the war front and propelled risk assets higher yesterday. Source: zerohedge

